Shooting Reported at Piney Woods Hall

December 8, 2019

*There were no injuries reported after a shooting this weekend at Piney Woods Hall, but damage to the building is apparent and police are searching for answers.*

A shooting at Piney Woods Hall this weekend has sparked an investigation into the shooter and motive behind the incident.

While no injuries were reported, the side of the dormitory sustained damage. Bullet holes and shattered glass are fenced off behind a SHSU Res Life Maintenance barricade.

*Citizens are questioning why a shooting this weekend at Piney Woods Hall was not reported immediately to SHSU’s emergency notification system, KatSafe.*

A KatSafe notification was not sent out directly after the shooting, leaving many to find out about the incident from a Sam Houston State University Police Department Facebook post.

According to UPD, the shooting was not reported until 12 hours after it occurred.

“That is why nothing went out immediately, because simply, no one knew about,” UPD Patrol Sergeant James Morgan said. “We can’t report something that’s not reported to us.”

Piney Woods Hall is SHSU’s newest dormitory with a capacity of around 680 predominately first-year students who are required to live on campus.

The SHSU Residence Life main office has not yet responded to a request for a comment. The Houstonian will update this story as information becomes available.

If anyone has information regarding this incident, they may reach out to UPD at 936-294-1800.

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